Suriyavamsa - newly installed President of Triratna Highlands in Scotland - is marking the start of his time in that position by making a Dharma Walk from Inverness to Glasgow (that’s 165 miles or so!). And he’s blogging it for us from his trusty Blackberry… + follow above to get updates from the road!
Back On The Road
This morning Danabhadri gave Jinavamsa and I a lift to Killin. After paying St. Fillin and his wolf our respects we set off through easy forest track and old railway lines down Glen Ogle and on to Kingshouse, where we are currently munching on chips.
We have four more milestones to Dhanakosa. My leg is playing up a little, but plenty of rests and spells doing my twirly exercise keeps it going. Its pleasant walking with Jinavamsa, strolling along and talking about most things under the sun, but he’ll be heading back to Glasgow tomorrow.
While resting this afternoon we encountered ‘Bike for Peace’, three burly middle aged Norwegians on a bicycle and a tandem, who loved that we were Buddhists and that I was a member of Scottish CND. The more talkative one knew Aung San Suu Kyi personally. Another had a cycling top with ‘Mayors for Peace’ emblazoned proudly and indeed was the mayor of a ‘pleasant Norwegian town’. Surprises never cease.
On soon to Dhanakosa retreat centre for the night, via Rob Roy’s grave. Tomorrow, Callander and more surprises.
***
Just reached Callander, where I am sitting in the Riverside Inn bending time and space. Outside is the road I’ve travelled dozens of times to Dhanakosa Retreat Centre. From here it is half an hour’s drive, yet today it took me six hours to walk from there, taking in the landscape so much more. Dhanakosa and Callander sit apart on different scales which we set by our experience of the journey.
This was the genesis of this walk - looking out of the car window on those journeys wondering where these paths I could see on the other side of the field went, what it would be like to walk on them.
This morning Jinavamsa and I sat with the retreat centre’s support community, joining in with the Tiratanavandana in one of the best shrine rooms in the Triratna community - a wooden one-roomed building made by Douglas Hastings from a tree that fell just yards from where the shrine room now stands. (See photo.) I had placed the vajra I’m carrying from Inverness to Glasgow on the shrine to link this place in with the rest of the walk. If the walk itself is a vajra Dhanakosa community shrine room is the bulbous part at the centre - the bija, ‘seed’. Many thanks to the Dhanakosans for welcoming us and feeding us so well.
Jinavamsa left me at Strathyre to get back to Glasgow and I strolled on down Loch Lubnaig and along a winding path through the beauty of an oak and moss forest by the Falls of Leny’s deep dark swirling waters.
Off soon to find the campsite at the other end of Callander, but not until I’ve sampled the baked macaroni cheese of this inn I’m currently ensconced in.
Photos: Jinavamsa on the road, Jinavamsa ready to walk - with St. Fillan’s wolf, Julia’s Hot and Cold Snack Bar, popular with bikers, Dhanakosa retreat centre, Looking towards Dhanakosa from the foot of Loch Voil, Dhanakosa community shrine room, Dhanakosa community shrine, Rob Roy’s grave, Balquhidder.
Days 1 & 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Days 5 & 6 | Days 7 & 8 | Day 9 | Day 10
Back On The Road
This morning Danabhadri gave Jinavamsa and I a lift to Killin. After paying St. Fillin and his wolf our respects we set off through easy forest track and old railway lines down Glen Ogle and on to Kingshouse, where we are currently munching on chips.
We have four more milestones to Dhanakosa. My leg is playing up a little, but plenty of rests and spells doing my twirly exercise keeps it going. Its pleasant walking with Jinavamsa, strolling along and talking about most things under the sun, but he’ll be heading back to Glasgow tomorrow.
While resting this afternoon we encountered ‘Bike for Peace’, three burly middle aged Norwegians on a bicycle and a tandem, who loved that we were Buddhists and that I was a member of Scottish CND. The more talkative one knew Aung San Suu Kyi personally. Another had a cycling top with ‘Mayors for Peace’ emblazoned proudly and indeed was the mayor of a ‘pleasant Norwegian town’. Surprises never cease.
On soon to Dhanakosa retreat centre for the night, via Rob Roy’s grave. Tomorrow, Callander and more surprises.
***
Just reached Callander, where I am sitting in the Riverside Inn bending time and space. Outside is the road I’ve travelled dozens of times to Dhanakosa Retreat Centre. From here it is half an hour’s drive, yet today it took me six hours to walk from there, taking in the landscape so much more. Dhanakosa and Callander sit apart on different scales which we set by our experience of the journey.
This was the genesis of this walk - looking out of the car window on those journeys wondering where these paths I could see on the other side of the field went, what it would be like to walk on them.
This morning Jinavamsa and I sat with the retreat centre’s support community, joining in with the Tiratanavandana in one of the best shrine rooms in the Triratna community - a wooden one-roomed building made by Douglas Hastings from a tree that fell just yards from where the shrine room now stands. (See photo.) I had placed the vajra I’m carrying from Inverness to Glasgow on the shrine to link this place in with the rest of the walk. If the walk itself is a vajra Dhanakosa community shrine room is the bulbous part at the centre - the bija, ‘seed’. Many thanks to the Dhanakosans for welcoming us and feeding us so well.
Jinavamsa left me at Strathyre to get back to Glasgow and I strolled on down Loch Lubnaig and along a winding path through the beauty of an oak and moss forest by the Falls of Leny’s deep dark swirling waters.
Off soon to find the campsite at the other end of Callander, but not until I’ve sampled the baked macaroni cheese of this inn I’m currently ensconced in.
Photos: Jinavamsa on the road, Jinavamsa ready to walk - with St. Fillan’s wolf, Julia’s Hot and Cold Snack Bar, popular with bikers, Dhanakosa retreat centre, Looking towards Dhanakosa from the foot of Loch Voil, Dhanakosa community shrine room, Dhanakosa community shrine, Rob Roy’s grave, Balquhidder.
Days 1 & 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Days 5 & 6 | Days 7 & 8 | Day 9 | Day 10
